MEDIATING EFFECTS OF SELF-EFFICACY ON FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION AMONG NURSING AND MIDWIFERY STAFF IN ARDABIL- APPLICATION OF TRANSTHEORETICAL MODEL.

Corresponding Author:
Sajjad Narimani,
Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery,
Social Determinants of Health Research Center,
Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
E-mail: s.narimani@arums.ac.ir

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

It is highly recommended to promptly assess motivation and readiness to change in individuals who wish to achieve significant lifestyle behaviour changes in order to improve their health. In particular, motivation should be assessed in those who face the difficulty in behavioural changes.

This study is aimed to investigate the mediating effects of self-efficacy on the relationships between predicting variables and outcome variable using the Transtheoretical Model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of 300 nursing and midwifery staffs employed in hospitals of Ardabil city, which were selected by systematic random sampling method. The data gathering tool was a Transtheoretical Model scale. Validity and reliability was confirmed in previous study. The data were analysed by SPSS 19 using the descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation test and Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 41.34% of the samples had normal BMI. The majority of subjects (77.3%) were in the early stages of change for fruit and vegetable consumption and only 22.7 percent were located in active stages. Regression revealed that self-efficacy was the strongest predictor of stage of change (β= 0.357, P= 0.001) and mediated the relationships of behavioural processes with stages of change (β= 0.369, P= 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study showed a strong correlation between self-efficacy, decisional balance and processes of change with stages of change. So, we suggest that in order to promoting the fruit and vegetable consumption, these variables be considered as the basis of the interventional program. Also considering the mediating effect of self-efficacy as the strongest predictor, we suggest a targeted and appropriate application of this variable in the interventions.

KEYWORDS

Self-Efficacy, Fruit and Vegetable, Transtheoretical Model.